Printer control apparatus, printer control method, printing system, and storage medium - A printer control apparatus includes: a printer search section that conducts a search for printers connected to the network, acquires printer information indicative of the printers thus extracted by the search, and causes the printer information thus acquired to be stored in a printer information storage section; a network information acquiring section that acquires network information for determining whether or not a second network connected to the printer control apparatus this time is identical to a first network connected to the printer control apparatus previous time and that causes the network information thus acquired to be stored in a network information storage section; and a printer information acquiring section that acquires the printer information from the printer search section by causing the printer search section to conduct the search in a case where the network information of the second network is different from the network information of the first network, the printer information acquiring section, and acquires the printer information from the printer information storage section without causing the printer search section to conduct the search in a case where the network information of the second network is identical to the network information of the first network. Consequently, printing can be speedily started.

2011-08-04

20110188065

INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD, AND COMPUTER-READABLE MEDIUM - An information processing apparatus in which a preset associated with a driver is registered, comprises a preset acquisition unit that acquires information regarding a preset registered in the information processing apparatus; a function acquisition unit that acquires information regarding a function of a printer that corresponds to a driver associated with the preset; a determination unit that compares information regarding a plurality of presets and determines whether or not the presets have the same parameter for a common setting item; and a registration unit that, if a function related to a setting item that is a difference included in only one of the presets is not held by a printer that corresponds to a driver associated with the other presets, registers only the preset including the setting item that is the difference in the information processing apparatus in association with a plurality of drivers associated with the plurality of presets.

2011-08-04

20110188066

PROCESSOR SYSTEM WITH PROVISION FOR AUTOMATED CONTROL OF PROCESSING PARAMETERS - The invention relates to processing imaged precursors such as lithographic printing plates. The invention relates specifically to adjusting a processing device for optimal processing performance using a plate recognition system that includes a sensing and authentication subsystem. The processor is automated to make adjustments according to the information provided.

2011-08-04

20110188067

PRE-PAID DOCUMENT PROCESSING DEVICES AND OPERATING METHODS - Document processing devices and methods are presented, in which the device stores a remaining print unit value in its memory that represents the amount of print units currently available to enable the device to perform the document processing operations, and a programmable computer of the device selectively performs document processing jobs for users and decrements the remaining print unit value until the value reaches zero and the device provides for expenditure of print units according to color content and/or coverage levels determined for a given job.

Print Job Processing - Processing print jobs on a computer which comprises generating a first print ready job file by a first print module based on an input print job file and generating a second print ready job file by a second print module based on the input print job file. The first print ready job file is compared to the second print ready job file, and if there is at least one difference between the first print ready job file and the second print ready job file, the input print job file is forwarded to a PSP (printer service provider) that is configured with the first print module or the second print ready job file is forwarded to a PSP that is configured with the second print module.

2011-08-04

20110188070

DETECTION AND REPLACEMENT OF CONSUMABLE COMPONENTS OF COMPUTER PERIPHERALS - The present invention provides a technique for detecting and replacing consumable components, e.g., printer cartridges, of computer peripherals, e.g., printers. In an exemplary embodiment of the invention, a consumer loads a web page of a printer cartridge supplier. The web page includes a link to a server-based software application for identifying suitable replacement printer cartridges for the consumer. Upon download and activation by the consumer, the software scans the operating system of the consumer's local computer to determine the number and types of printer drivers installed on that computer. Generally, each printer driver is associated with a particular make and model of a peripheral printer connected to the consumer's computer. By determining the types of printer drivers existing on the consumer's computer, the software is able to identify the specific printers belonging to the consumer, and in turn facilitates the recommendation of suitable replacement cartridges and accessories for those printers. A list of those replacement cartridges and accessories is displayed to the consumer, from which the consumer may select and purchase.

Image processing system, image inputting apparatus, display controlling apparatus, management method and program for image processing system, and storage medium - An image processing system, connecting a plurality of image forming apparatuses via a network for outputting an input image using one of image forming apparatuses, includes an output-specifying information obtaining unit that obtains output-specifying information including to-be-output image data and information designating one of the image forming apparatuses as an output destination to output the to-be-output image data; an output-able size information obtaining unit to obtain output-able size information linking information identifying each image forming apparatus and output-able image size information at each image forming apparatus; an output-able size information display unit to display an output-able image size of each image forming apparatuses on a display area; an image data converter to convert image data to a data format suitable for the designated image forming apparatus; and an image data transmission unit to transmit the converted image data to one of the image forming apparatuses designated as the output destination.

2011-08-04

20110188073

Image processing apparatus, image processing system, and computer-readable recording medium thereof - An image processing apparatus is disclosed, including: a managing part, a use amount storing part, a setting part, and a determining part. The managing part manages a group threshold of a group including multiple members allowed to use the function for a use amount of the function. The use amount storing part stores a value of the use amount for each member. The setting part allocates the group threshold to the multiple members based on a value of a priority for each member in the group, and sets a member threshold for each member. The determining part determines whether a restriction concerning a use of the function is applied to a process of a use request, based on a result from comparing the value of the use amount with the member threshold for the request originator in response to the use request of the function.

2011-08-04

20110188074

Print processing device - A print processing device includes a print processing portion, a first setting portion, a second setting portion, a priority information retaining portion, and a control portion. The print processing portion executes print processing on paper, based on a print job request. The first setting portion receives input of setting of priority information. The second setting portion receives input of setting of a time zone where the priority information is set. The priority information retaining portion retains a relationship between the priority information and the time zone. The control portion performs priority processing in which the print job request is preferentially supplied to the print processing portion, the print job request being inputted from the information processing device determined to have a higher priority in the time zone including current time based on the relationship retained in the priority information retaining portion.

2011-08-04

20110188075

PRINTING SYSTEM AND METHOD OF CONTROLLING PRINTER DEVICE - A printing system has a printer device including a communication control portion and a print engine carrying out a print processing, and an information processing device connected to the printer device as external equipment via a USB interface, the printer device being connected to external equipment by the communication function of the communication control portion via a USB interface, and inputting the electric power of the print engine by a print request from the external equipment to perform the print processing in a printer standby state in which the electric power of the print engine is reduced while maintaining the communication function of the communication control portion.

2011-08-04

20110188076

IMAGE DISPLAY DEVICE - A complex machine is provided with a communication unit such as a facsimile communication unit, a communication destination storage that stores a plurality of pieces of communication destination information for communication destinations to be communicated with by the communication unit, a display unit, a display controller that controls the display of the display unit, a communication destination receiving section that receive the communication destination, with which communication is to be carried out by the communication unit, together with the communication destination information from an operator, and a selection criterion storage that stores a selection criterion used to select the communication destinations and communication destination information to be displayed on the display unit. The display controller extracts the communication destination information according to the selection criterion and causes the display unit to display the extracted communication destination information.

2011-08-04

20110188077

OPERATING DEVICE AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An operating device is provided with a display unit; a storage storing a plurality of workflows, each of which is composed of a combination of a predetermined plurality of processing items out of a plurality of processing items of an image forming apparatus including the operating device, in advance; a first selection input section for inputting the selection of a processing item out of the plurality of processing items of the image forming apparatus; a searching section for searching a workflow including the same processing item as the selected processing item from the plurality of workflows stored in the storage when the selection of the processing item is input by the first selection input section; and a display controller for controlling the display unit to display an image indicating the extracted workflow as a search result by the searching section.

2011-08-04

20110188078

IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, CONTROL METHOD THEREOF, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - An image processing apparatus stores a plurality of conversion conditions for converting input image data and, if the image data is converted according to each conversion condition, information indicating a relationship between a data size of the image data before conversion and a data size of transmission data that is acquired after conversion by associating the conversion conditions and the information with each other; sets the conversion condition for converting the input image data according to an instruction from a user, estimates the data size of the transmission data that is acquired if the input image data is converted according to the set conversion condition, using the stored information; and issues a notification to the user based on a result of the estimation.

2011-08-04

20110188079

INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, COMMUNICATION APPARATUS, WIRELESS DIAGNOSIS METHOD AND PROGRAM - An information processing apparatus includes: a first communication section which communicates with an external device having a diagnosis function of a network using a first communication method; a second communication section which communicates with the external device using a second communication method; and a transmission section which transmits a diagnosis signal to the external device through the second communication section. The transmission section transmits the diagnosis signal according to a diagnosis request received through the first communication section from the external device.

2011-08-04

20110188080

IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, AND INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM - An image processing apparatus that outputs images includes: a storage unit that stores therein a printer driver, in which configurations and functions related to image outputs are described in a text format, and device information indicating configurations related to image outputs in the image processing apparatus; a receiving unit that receives, from an information processing apparatus connected via a communication line, a transmission request message that requests transmission of the printer driver; a reflecting unit that reflects the device information on the printer driver when the receiving unit receives the transmission request message; and a transmitting unit that transmits the printer driver, on which the device information is reflected by the reflecting unit, to the information processing apparatus.

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR COMMUNICATING BETWEEN A REMOTE PRINTER AND A SERVER - In order to enable downloading to a mobile printer data items from a server, a method comprising the steps of establishing communication connection end points (“sockets”), communicating with the server, where the communication includes sending a request for authentication to the server, receiving an authentication response, requesting print data portions from the server, receiving the requested print data portions, and notifying the server after each print data portion has been printed. The method also includes the step of terminating their communication connection when a printing session ends or if an error occurs. The method constitutes a printer-server protocol.

2011-08-04

20110188083

IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS, IMAGE FORMING SYSTEM, STORAGE MEDIUM, AND CONTROL METHOD - An image forming apparatus of the present invention is an image forming apparatus into which a memory device is insertable and which performs a printing process on an image of image data stored in the memory device. The image forming apparatus includes a memory reading section for detecting insertion of the memory device into the image forming apparatus, and a display processing section for performing a notification process of warning of accidental ingestion of the memory device, when the memory reading section detects the insertion of the memory device. This makes it more surely possible to cause a user to give attention to accidental ingestion by young children.

2011-08-04

20110188084

INFORMATION PROCESSING SYSTEM, METHOD AND RECORDING MEDIUM - An image forming apparatus that functions as a client of a distributed file system is provided, in which the image forming apparatus includes: a distributed file system process part for mounting a file system of a server apparatus on the image forming apparatus to enable the image forming apparatus to access the file system of the server apparatus as the distributed file system of the image forming apparatus; and a storing process part for accessing the file system of the server apparatus and storing, in the file system, information that is stored in a storage unit used by the image forming apparatus.

2011-08-04

20110188085

IMAGE READER - An image reader is provided, which includes a controller that when a PC-scan mode is set as an output mode, the controller controls an image output unit to output second read data of a second side of a document sheet at each time when a storage unit stores the second read data output from a second image reading unit on a line-by-line basis, controls the storage device to store first read data of a first side of the document sheet during a time period from a time when a leading end of the document sheet reaches a reading position of a first image reading unit to a time when a trailing end of the document sheet passes through a reading position of the second image reading unit, and controls the image output unit to sequentially output the first read data stored on the storage unit, after completely outputting the second read data.

2011-08-04

20110188086

TOOTH SHADE ANALYZER SYSTEM AND METHODS - The invention relates to a non-transitory computer readable medium that includes one or more programs for carrying out a method for addressing a dental need in a patient involving modification of tooth shape, alignment, or color. The method includes the steps of receiving an electronic image of a patient's tooth; storing the image electronically in memory storage; and communicating the image to a party for evaluation of the modification of tooth shape, alignment, or color in connection with the addressing of the patient's dental need.

2011-08-04

20110188087

SELECTION OF EXPOSURE INTENSITY AND CLEANING FIELD INTENSITY SETPOINTS FOR OPTIMUM LINE WIDTH USING SENSOR READING - Line width of images marked by an image marking device is adjusted by reading a calibration patch marked by the marking device, and then adjusting one or more settings of the marking device, such as exposure intensity or cleaning field intensity, independent of the digital control of the tone reproduction curve so that the line width of subsequently marked images becomes closer to a target value. A digital control may be implemented to compensate for the impact of the modification of the one or more settings on the tone reproduction curve.

2011-08-04

20110188088

IMAGE PROCESSING APPARATUSES, IMAGE FORMING APPARATUSES, AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIA STORING PROGRAMS - An image processing apparatus includes: a calculating unit that sequentially selects pixels as a target pixel, on binary image data composed of plural color plates for each printing color after having been subjected to halftone-dot processing, and calculates a characteristic amount in each of plural preset areas around the selected target pixel on the basis of states of pixels in the areas; a determination unit that determines, on the basis of the characteristic amount in each of the areas calculated by the calculating unit, whether or not the target pixel is a pixel to be subjected to overlay processing; a decision unit that decides, for each of the color plates, a position of a pixel to be referred to when changing a pixel value of the target pixel, on the basis of a halftone-dot processing attribute for each of the color plates; and a changing unit that, if it is determined by the determination unit that the target pixel is the pixel to be subjected to the overlay processing, changes the pixel value of the target pixel of the image data of the color plate for a printing color to be changed in pixel value in the overlay processing, to a pixel value at the position decided by the decision unit.

2011-08-04

20110188089

METHOD AND ARRANGEMENT FOR AUTOMATIC VERIFICATION OF THE VISUALLY PERCEIVED COLOR IMPRESSION OF MULTICOLOR COLOR IMAGES - A method and arrangement that automatically verify a visually perceived color impression of multicolor color images in a printed product having text in addition to color images includes digitally storing a reference image in a database for each multicolor color image to be verified, scanning the printed product uses an imaging sensor, and converts the signal obtained into a digital image file. The digital image file is broken down into regions containing text or graphics and into regions of color images without text or graphics. A statistical descriptive feature of colors occurring and a measure of image sharpness are calculated for each region consisting of a multicolor color image, and are then compared with stored data for the reference image. Deviation rates for the statistical descriptive feature of the colors occurring and for the measure of the image sharpness are calculated and displayed.

2011-08-04

20110188090

Internet-based synchronized imaging - A internet based method and apparatus is described for automatically processing a captured digital image taken by a smart device at a fixed-location, mobile or virtual event, and synchronizing the combination of that captured primary image with a secondary image, be it a picture frame, or a watermark to create a combined media image. If desired, the combined image may also contain an audio file. Once combined, the image may be stored for later viewing, and/or automatically returned to the user of the smart device or the PC of the user who captured the primary image, forwarded to an online print service website, posted to a photo sharing website, and/or forwarded to a distribution list. The automated post processing of said captured images is handled by a process engine hosted at an Application Provider's website, the process engine containing instructions for the media combining and metadata tagging of said images.

2011-08-04

20110188091

IMAGE-READER SELECTING PARAMETER - In the image-reader, a first reading unit generates the first surface worth of first image data by reading a first surface of an document sheet. The second reading unit generates the second surface worth of second image data by reading a second surface. The process surface determining unit determines which of the first surface and the second surface is a process surface. The parameter storing unit stores a first parameter that corresponds to the first surface and a second parameter that corresponds to the second surface. The selecting unit selects one of the first parameter and the second parameter as a process parameter that corresponds to the process surface. The selecting unit outputs the process parameter. The image process executing unit executes an image process on the one of the first image data and the second image data by using the process parameter.

2011-08-04

20110188092

IMAGE READING APPARATUS AND IMAGE FORMING APPARATUS - An image reading apparatus includes a reading glass, a second guide member, and a control section. The reading glass and the second guide member together form a document feed path. The second guide member includes a white reference plate. The control section performs, when it is determined that shading correction image data is affected by a stain, a stain location determination of whether the stain is attached to the reading glass or the second guide member according to a tone value variation in the portion of the shading correction image data that corresponds to the stain edge, the variation being along a predetermined distance in the main scanning direction.

2011-08-04

20110188093

Methods and Systems for No-Touch Scanning - Aspects of the present invention are related to systems and methods for scanning a document wherein a scan function is invoked implicitly by a user positioning a document object, or document objects, to be scanned near an active surface of the scanner. According to one aspect of the present invention, the user's intent to scan a document object may be determined by an active-sensing pipeline.

2011-08-04

20110188094

INFORMATION PROCESSING APPARATUS, INFORMATION PROCESSING METHOD AND COMPUTER READABLE MEDIUM - An information processing apparatus includes: a document acceptance unit that accepts a plurality of documents; a reduction and display unit that reduces and displays the documents accepted by the document acceptance unit; a region designation unit that designates a region for one of the documents displayed by the reduction and display unit; a region image creation unit that creates an image corresponding to the region designated by the region designation unit for each of the documents accepted by the document acceptance unit based on a size of each of the documents displayed by the reduction and display unit; and a region image display unit that displays the images created by the region image creation unit in respective document positions corresponding to the documents displayed by the reduction and display unit.

2011-08-04

20110188095

IMAGE READING APPARATUS AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING THE SAME - An image reading apparatus that improves reading productivity during simultaneous double-sided reading without leading to increases in the size and cost of the apparatus and a method for controlling the image reading apparatus are provided. To accomplish this, the image reading apparatus, in the case of a single-sided reading mode, controls the scanning speed of a first image reading unit to a first scanning speed and controls the distance between original document sheets to a first distance between original document sheets. On the other hand, in the case of a double-sided reading mode, the image reading apparatus controls the scanning speed of the first image reading unit to a second scanning speed that is the scanning speed of a second image reading unit and that is slower than the first scanning speed, and controls the distance to a second distance that is shorter than the first distance.

2011-08-04

20110188096

SCANNING DEVICE CAPABLE OF SWITCHING IMAGE PROCESSING MODE AUTOMATICALLY - A scanning device includes a first tray, a second tray, a detection module, a scanning module, and an image processing module. The first tray has an identification element. When the scanning device scans the first tray, the detection module detects the identification element so as to generate a first signal. When the scanning device scans the second tray, the detection module does not detect the identification element so as to generate a second signal. The image processing module uses a first group of parameters to process the scanned image when receiving the first signal. The image processing module uses a second group of parameters to process the scanned image when receiving the second signal.

2011-08-04

20110188097

IMAGE RECORDING DEVICE - An image reading device includes a tray unit, a recording unit disposed above the tray unit, an outer guide defining a curved path extending from the tray unit to the recording unit, a sheet feeder configured to feed a sheet from the tray unit to the curved path, and a return guide disposed between the recording unit and the tray unit. The return guide pivots about a shaft and guides the sheet having an image recorded thereon back to the curved path. The tray unit includes at least one supporting portion. The return guide includes at least one supported portion. The at least one supporting portion of the tray unit engages the at least one supported portion of the return guide such that the return guide takes a guiding position in which the return guide defines a return path extending to the curved path.

2011-08-04

20110188098

IMAGE SCANNING APPARATUS - An image scanning apparatus having a feeding unit that feeds a document; a first scanning unit, which scans one face of the document fed, and which scans a document set on a document platen; a second scanning unit that scans the other face of the document fed; an instructing unit that, during a scanning operation being performed by a preceding-document scanning unit, which is one of the first scanning unit and the second scanning unit, instructs an other of the first scanning unit and the second scanning unit to scan a document not being scanned by the preceding-document scanning unit; and an executing unit that executes a scanning operation by a following-document scanning unit that is the other of the first scanning unit and the second scanning unit when the instructing unit instructs the other of the first scanning unit and the second scanning unit to start the scanning operation.

2011-08-04

20110188099

SCANNING APPARATUS HAVING MACHANISM FOR ADJUSTING OPENING OF SHEET PASSAGEWAY - A scanning apparatus having a mechanism for adjusting an opening of a sheet passageway includes a first assembly, a second assembly and a driving mechanism. The first assembly is moveably disposed. The second assembly is disposed opposite the first assembly. The driving mechanism drives the first assembly to move in a vertical direction to adjust a distance between the first assembly and the second assembly. The driving mechanism includes a horizontally extending portion and a vertically extending portion. The horizontally extending portion is moveable in a horizontal direction. The vertically extending portion, connected to the horizontally extending portion, pushes against the first assembly. The vertically extending portion drives the first assembly to move in the vertical direction in response to the movement of the horizontally extending portion in the horizontal direction.

2011-08-04

20110188100

Drive Control Device and Drive Control Method - A drive control device includes a signal generation unit, a position detection unit, a speed detection unit, and a drive control unit. Based on at least one light receiving signal inputted from at least one light receiving unit of an encoder, the signal generation unit digitizes the at least one light receiving signal to generate at least one non-interpolated digital encoder signal, and digitizes and interpolates the at least one light receiving signal to generate at least one interpolated digital encoder signal. The position detection unit detects a position of an object based on the at least one interpolated digital encoder signal. The speed detection unit detects a speed of the object based on the at least one non-interpolated digital encoder signal. The drive control unit performs a drive control of the object based on the above-detected position and speed.

TWO FREQUENCY RESONANTLY EXCITED MEMS MIRROR FOR DIODE-LASER MARKER - Apparatus for marking a bitmap image on tape includes a scanning mirror which is incorporated in a micro-electro-mechanical system (MEMS). The MEMS is torsionally resonant at two frequencies one being about three time the other. The MEMS is excited to resonance by applying an AC signal to the actuators, causing the mirror to oscillate. The AC signal has components at the two frequencies. The magnitude and phase-relationship of the components can be selected such that the mirror oscillates in an approximation of a triangle-wave.

2011-08-04

20110188104

MOVING STRUCTURE AND LIGHT SCANNING MIRROR USING THE SAME - In a semiconductor mechanical structure, hinges may not be broken even when a mechanical shock is applied from outside, and thus, crashworthy is enhanced. A light scanning mirror includes a moving plate, a twin hinges constituting an axis of swing motion of the moving plate wherein an end of each hinge is connected to both ends of the moving plate, a stationary frame which is disposed to surround peripheries of the moving plate and supports another end of each of the twin hinges, and stoppers formed on the stationary frame. When the moving plate displaces in a lateral direction, the stopper contacts a side end portion of a recess of the moving plate, so that the displacement of the moving plate in the lateral direction is restrained. Thereby, the breakage of the hinges is prevented even when the mechanical shock is applied from outside.

2011-08-04

20110188105

SYSTEM AND METHOD FOR ADJUSTING A BEAM EXPANDER IN AN IMAGING SYSTEM - A line confocal microscope system, comprising an illumination system with a source of collimated light and a line forming optics arranged to provide a line shaped illumination area to be scanned over a sample, an image receiving system, and two or more objective lenses that are interchangeable in the optical path to provide different magnification, wherein the objective lenses have different aperture diameters, and the illumination system comprises a beam shape transformer arranged in between the source of collimated light and the line forming optics to selectively transform the cross-sectional shape of the collimated beam of light transmitted to the line forming optics to a predetermined shape in response to the back aperture diameter of the objective lens that is arranged in the optical path.

2011-08-04

20110188106

2D/3D SWITCHABLE IMAGE DISPLAY DEVICE - A two-dimensional (2D)/three-dimensional (3D) switchable image display device is provided. The 2D/3D switchable image display device forms gradation of an image in a light modulation panel, provides color to light beams that penetrate a plurality of electro-wetting prisms arranged in correspondence to the plurality of pixels of the image, and adjusts the direction of the light beam such that the light beams of the pixels of the image are directed towards at least two different view zones in a 3D mode and such that the light beams maintain their paths in a 2D mode.

2011-08-04

20110188107

SYSTEMS AND METHODS FOR PRESENTING THREE-DIMENSIONAL CONTENT USING PHOTOSENSITIVE LENSES - Systems and methods are provided for presenting three-dimensional content on a display. An exemplary system for presenting a plurality of frames on a display comprises a first lens, a second lens, and an activation system. The activation system utilizes electromagnetic radiation to activate the first lens when a respective frame being presented on the display corresponds to the first lens, resulting in the first lens being substantially transparent and the second lens being substantially opaque, and to activate the second lens when a respective frame being presented on the display corresponds to the second lens, resulting in the second lens being substantially transparent and the first lens being substantially opaque.

2011-08-04

20110188108

OPTICAL MODULE - To achieve a size-reduction of an optical module having a circuit that generates a high-frequency clock signal for controlling optical modulation by an optical modulator and to suppress radiation of electromagnetic waves from the optical module. A through-hole via is formed on a multilayer printed circuit board so as to be insulated from a plurality of grounded wiring layers by an anti-pad. A coaxial connector and an intensity modulation control IC that generates a high-frequency clock signal are provided on the multilayer printed circuit board. The high-frequency clock signal is input to the coaxial connector through a micro-strip line formed on the multilayer printed circuit board. An open stub connected to the through-hole via is provided on a wiring layer between a first wiring layer and a second wiring layer among the plurality of wiring layers.

MICROELECTROMECHANICAL DEVICE WITH RESTORING ELECTRODE - Light in the visible spectrum is modulated using an array of modulation elements, and control circuitry connected to the array for controlling each of the modulation elements independently, each of the modulation elements having a surface which is caused to exhibit a predetermined impedance characteristic to particular frequencies of light. The amplitude of light delivered by each of the modulation elements is controlled independently by pulse code modulation. Each modulation element has a deformable portion held under tensile stress, and the control circuitry controls the deformation of the deformable portion. Each deformable element has a deformation mechanism and an optical portion, the deformation mechanism and the optical portion independently imparting to the element respectively a controlled deformation characteristic and a controlled modulation characteristic. The deformable modulation element may be a non-metal. The elements are made by forming a sandwich of two layers and a sacrificial layer between them, the sacrificial layer having a thickness related to the final cavity dimension, and using chemical (e.g., water) or a plasma based etch process to remove the sacrificial layer.

2011-08-04

20110188111

SUBSTRATE FOR ELECTRO-OPTICAL DEVICES, ELECTRO-OPTICAL DEVICE AND ELECTRONIC APPARATUS - A electro-optical device is provide with a substrate, a pixel electrode provide for each pixel, a pixel transistor which is provided for each pixel more to a lower layer side through an interlayer insulating film than the pixel electrode and is connected to the pixel electrode, a periphery transistor provided in a periphery region, and a connection wire formed in the same film as the pixel electrode in a region where the interlayer insulating film and a gate insulating film included in the pixel transistor and the periphery transistor are not formed, and electrically connected to the periphery transistor.

2011-08-04

20110188112

Nonlinear Frequency Conversion in Nanoslot Optical Waveguides - A waveguide device for frequency mixing or conversion through birefringent phase matching, having two suspended horizontal waveguides with an air-filled horizontal nanoslot between them. The waveguides are formed of a material with a high nonlinear susceptibility, and one waveguide can be n-doped with the other waveguide slab being p-doped. The system can be tuned to operate at different frequencies by varying the nanoslot gap distance by electrostatically actuating the suspended air-clad waveguides.

2011-08-04

20110188113

REMOTE LENS UNIT ASSEMBLY FOR LASER DOPPLER VELOCIMETER - An assembly structure and method for housing a remote lens unit assembly of a laser Doppler velocimeter. The housing includes one or more transceiver telescopes and an optical window. The transceiver telescopes are aligned such that optical beams from the mounted optical transceiver telescopes cross paths at the optical window. The housing is mountable on a wind turbine.

2011-08-04

20110188114

SCREEN AND PROJECTOR - A screen includes a plurality of structures arrayed in parallel in at least one direction of a first direction and a second direction perpendicular to the first direction on a reference surface parallel to the first direction and the second direction. The structures are arrayed such that at least one of a distance between central positions of the structures adjacent to each other and a size of the structure changes irregularly in at least one direction, in which the structures are arrayed in parallel, of the first and second directions.

2011-08-04

20110188115

Compound curved stereoscopic eyewear - Stereoscopic eyewear with compound curvature may be employed to view three dimensional content. The manufacture of such eyewear may be achieved by thermoforming a first material and by thermoforming a second material. The first and second materials may be in roll stock form prior to thermoforming, and the first layer may be polarizer material, while the second layer may be retarder material. Each of the first and second materials may be thermoformed by employing optimized thermoforming conditions for each of the two materials. Additionally, the two thermoforming lines may be timed so that the curved shapes of the first material in roll stock form may be substantially synchronized with the curved shapes of the second material in roll stock form, which may allow the curved shapes of each of the first and second materials in roll stock form may be joined together.

2011-08-04

20110188116

Device for generation of three-demensional images - A device for generation of three-dimensional images in the observer's eye using at least one two-dimensional display and an optical system with an adjustable focal length. The display generates planar images corresponding to the different depths of the designed three dimensional (3D) image and the images are then directed to at least one mirror or lens with the adjustable focal length synchronized to the particular image. The optical system generates virtual images at different virtual planes in such a way that the eye receives a complete 3D virtual image.

2011-08-04

20110188117

ANTI-VIBRATION ZOOM LENS OPTICS - The present invention is directed to provide an anti-vibration zoom lens optics designed to bring about capabilities of reducing an effective aperture of one of lens groups displaceable for anti-vibration compensation to permit downsizing of anti-vibration mechanism, and of avoiding complicating the lens mechanism by virtue of the optics design simply of four of the lens groups where a unit associated with an aperture stop and an anti-vibration unit can be appropriately spaced apart from each other without interference between driving mechanisms for both the units. The four groups of lens pieces include the leading or first lens group of positive refractivity, the succeeding second lens group of negative refractivity, the third lens group of positive refractivity, and the trailing or fourth lens group of positive refractivity all arranged in this order from the front end closest to the object to the rearmost, where the fourth lens group include three subsets of lens pieces, namely, the leading or first subset, the succeeding or second subset, and the trailing or third subset all arranged in this order from the front end closest to the object to the rearmost, and the second subset of lens pieces are moved perpendicular to the optical axis to compensate for blur in the imaging plane.

2011-08-04

20110188118

DIFFRACTIVE ELEMENT WITH A HIGH DEGREE OF WAVEFRONT FLATNESS - The present invention relates to the creation of a diffractive element that has a high degree of wavefront flatness. The diffractive element has a flat functional substrate with a first side, whereby a fine structure is arranged on or in this first side, and whereby the first side of this functional substrate is arranged on a flat carrier substrate, whereby the carrier substrate has a higher degree of rigidity than the functional substrate.

2011-08-04

20110188119

DYNAMICALLY VARYING AN OPTICAL CHARACTERISTIC OF A LIGHT BEAM - An apparatus for dynamically varying an optical characteristic of a light beam includes an optical element configured to receive a beam of light. The optical element includes at least one sub-wavelength grating formed of a plurality of lines. The apparatus includes at least one actuator connected to at least one component of the optical element and a controller for controlling the at least one actuator to dynamically vary a characteristic of the beam of light that is at least one of emitted through and reflected from the optical element.

2011-08-04

20110188120

BROADBAND OPTICS FOR MANIPULATING LIGHT BEAMS AND IMAGES - The objective of the present invention is providing optical systems for controlling with propagation of light beams in lateral and angular space, and through optical apertures. Said light beams include laser beams as well as beams with wide spectrum of wavelengths and large divergence angles. Said optical systems are based on combination of diffractive waveplates with diffractive properties that can be controlled with the aid of external stimuli such as electrical fields, temperature, optical beams and mechanical means.

2011-08-04

20110188121

MEASURING DEVICE WITH A REDUCED SHARE OF STRAY LIGHT - A device for measurement by means of a light ray is equipped with a covering device for reducing stray light. The device comprises an array of lenses along an optical axis; a prism attached to one of the lenses with a slanted surface for coupling of the light ray incident from a light source placed lateral to the optical axis, onto the optical axis, so that the light ray can pass through the array of lenses along the optical axis; a receiver for receipt of a share of the light ray reflected by an object; and a covering device for at least one area of the prism that scatters a share of the light ray as stray light to the receiver.

2011-08-04

20110188122

ELECTRO-OPTIC REARVIEW MIRROR ASSEMBLY FOR VEHICLE - An exterior mirror reflective element for a vehicular exterior rearview mirror assembly includes a front glass substrate having a transparent conductive coating established at a second surface thereof and a rear glass substrate having a metallic reflector coating established at a third surface thereof, with an electro-optic medium disposed between the second surface of the front glass substrate and the third surface of the rear glass substrate. An electrically conductive clip is disposed along and bridges a perimeter edge of the rear glass substrate to establish electrically conductive connection to the metallic reflector coating at the third surface of the rear glass substrate. A solder joint is established at the electrically conductive clip, and the solder is decoupled from the metallic reflector coating at the third surface of the rear glass substrate.

2011-08-04

20110188123

ANTIREFLECTION STRUCTURE AND OPTICAL DEVICE INCLUDING THE SAME - A diffusing plate is formed so as to have a surface having a larger surface roughness than a predetermined wavelength and having an aperiodic roughness shape. A plurality of fine concave/convex portions are formed on the surface so as to be arranged within a cycle equal to and smaller than a predetermined wavelength.

OPTICAL ELEMENT AND METHOD FOR MANUFACTURING THE SAME - An optical element includes: a first optical layer having a concavo-convex surface; a wavelength-selective reflective layer provided on the concavo-convex surface of the first optical layer; a second optical layer provided on the concavo-convex surface on which the wavelength-selective reflective layer is provided so as to fill the concavo-convex surface, and in the optical element described above, the wavelength-selective reflective layer includes a metal layer, a protective layer provided on the metal layer and containing a metal oxide as a primary component, and a high refractive index layer provided on the protective layer and containing a metal oxide other than zinc oxide as a primary component, and the wavelength-selective reflective layer selectively directionally reflects light in a specific wavelength band while transmitting light other than that in the specific wavelength band.

2011-08-04

20110188126

VISUAL DISPLAY APPARATUS - The visual display apparatus of the invention has an image display device, a projection optical system for projection of an image displayed on the image display device, an eyepiece optical system of positive reflecting power that uses an image coming from afar as an image projected from the projection optical system, and a cylindrical or conical diffusing surface located near an image projected from the projection optical system. The image projected from the projection optical system is located in such a way as to draw a circular arc at any position in the plane orthogonal to the optical axis of the projection optical system.

2011-08-04

20110188127

VARIABLE FOCUS LENS - The variable focus lens of the present invention changes the refractive power by changing each of the shapes of a first interface formed by a first liquid and a second liquid that have refractive indices that differ from each other and a second interface formed by the second liquid and a third liquid that have refractive indices that differ from each other. Thereby, this variable focus lens changes the first interface and the second interface such that the sign of the refractive power of the first interface and the sign of the refractive power of the second interface differ from each other.

2011-08-04

20110188128

ZOOM LENS SYSTEM - A zoom lens system includes a negative first lens group, a positive second and third lens groups, wherein distances between the lens groups change during zooming from the short to long focal length extremities. The following conditions (1) and (2) are satisfied:

2011-08-04

20110188129

LENS CONTROL DEVICE HAVING LENS POSITION CONTROL FUNCTION FOR BRINGING, METHOD OF CONTROLLING THE SAME, AND STORAGE MEDIUM - A lens control device which is capable of controlling lens positions such that an in-focus state of an object image can be maintained even when a variable power lens is positioned outside a normal zoom range from a wide-angle end to a telephoto end. A flash memory stores a positional relationship between the variable power lens and a focus lens, on an object distance-by-object distance basis. A system controller controls the movement of the focus lens by calculating the in-focus position of the focus lens with respect to the position of the variable power lens based on the positional relationship stored in the flash memory when the variable power lens is moved to a position outside the normal zoom range defined in the positional relationship stored in the flash memory.

IMAGING LENS AND IMAGING APPARATUS - An imaging lens includes a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, an aperture stop, and a fourth lens, sequentially arranged from the object-side. The first lens has negative power, and an object-side surface is convex and an image-side surface is concave. Both surfaces of the second lens are aspheric, and in the vicinity of the optical axis, the second lens has negative power, and the object-side surface is concave and the image-side surface is convex. Both surfaces of the third lens are aspheric, and in the vicinity of the optical axis, the third lens has positive power, and the object-side surface is convex, and the image-side surface is convex. Both surfaces of the fourth lens are aspheric, and in the vicinity of the optical axis, the fourth lens has positive power, and the object-side surface is concave, and the image-side surface is convex.

2011-08-04

20110188133

IMAGING LENS AND IMAGING APPARATUS - An imaging lens includes a first lens, a second lens, a third lens, an aperture stop, and a fourth lens, sequentially arranged from the object-side of the imaging lens. The first lens has negative power, and an object-side surface is convex and an image-side surface is concave. Both surfaces of the second lens are aspheric, and in the vicinity of the optical axis, the second lens has negative power, and the object-side surface is convex and the image-side surface is concave. Both surfaces of the third lens are aspheric, and in the vicinity of the optical axis, the third lens has positive power, and the object-side surface is convex, and the image-side surface is concave. Both surfaces of the fourth lens are aspheric, and in the vicinity of the optical axis, the fourth lens has positive power, and the object-side surface is concave, and the image-side surface is convex.

2011-08-04

20110188134

METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR CONTROLLING POINT SPREAD OF AN OBJECT - A method of controlling a point spread of an object is disclosed. The method includes determining a first value of a characteristic of an optical component of a display, wherein the display includes a first display screen and a second display screen, and wherein the first and second display screens overlap. The method also includes determining a position for the optical component based upon the first value of the characteristic by determining a distance from an origin of the object to the position based upon the first value of the characteristic.

2011-08-04

20110188135

OPTICAL DEVICE AND OPTICAL INSTRUMENT - An optical device comprises: a first holding frame holding an optical system; a second holding frame holding the first holding frame and having a groove provided on a face opposing the first holding frame; an elastic member provided between the first holding frame and the second holding frame; a position determining portion capable of determining a position of the first holding frame towards the elastic member, and provided to sandwich, with the elastic member, the first holding frame; a fixing portion is capable of fixing the first holding frame towards the position determining portion so that the first holding frame is fixed, and which is provided to sandwich, with the position determining portion, the first holding frame; and a protruding portion which has a first end fixed to the first holding frame, and another end which differs from the first end and which is inserted into the groove.

2011-08-04

20110188136

Focusing mount - A focusing mount includes a focusing frame fixed to a focus tube with at least one lens having an optical axis which is connected to a constraining frame by prismatic joints for enabling movement of the focusing mount along the optical axis without any twisting, lateral, rotational or swing movements.

2011-08-04

20110188137

LENS BARREL AND PHOTOGRAPHING APPARATUS INLCUDING THE SAME - A lens barrel and a photographing apparatus including the lens barrel include a clutch assembly disposed on a plane orthogonal to an optical axis between a manual adjustment ring and a distance adjustment ring. The clutch assembly rotates on a fixing part of the lens barrel and includes first, second, and third clutch wheels and one or more rollers, wherein the first clutch wheel includes an operator disposed on an end thereof and that receives a rotation force of the manual adjustment ring, the second clutch wheel is disposed on an inner surface of the first clutch wheel, the third clutch wheel is disposed on an inner surface of the second clutch wheel and fixed to the distance adjustment ring, and the rollers are radially disposed with respect to the optical axis and comprise surfaces contacting the operator and other surfaces contacting an outer surface of the third clutch wheel, wherein the first and second clutch wheels are elastically fixed to each other by first elastic members, a second elastic member is disposed between the second clutch wheel and the fixing part, and a third elastic member is disposed at both ends of the second clutch wheel, supports ends of circumferential surfaces of the rollers, and controls positions of the rollers.

2011-08-04

20110188138

PARABOLIC REFLECTOR - A reflection device including a sheet made of a flexible material with at least one surface having reflective properties including a first edge and a second edge on opposite sides of a center line of the sheet where the first edge and the second edge of the sheet are shaped such that the flexible material is formed into a mostly parabolic shape in cross section when bent about a line perpendicular to the center line and the sheet is secured at two points along the center line.

2011-08-04

20110188139

EXTREME BROADBAND COMPACT OPTICAL SYSTEM WITH MULTIPLE FIELDS OF VIEW - An optical system is described herein which has a compact, all reflective design that has multiple fields of view for imaging an object. The optical system also has identical viewing directions and can have several different configurations for adding laser range finding and designating components.

2011-08-04

20110188140

MICROMECHANICAL COMPONENT, OPTICAL DEVICE, MANUFACTURING METHOD FOR A MICROMECHANICAL COMPONENT, AND MANUFACTURING METHOD FOR AN OPTICAL DEVICE - A micromechanical component is described having a component which has a moth-eye structure which covers at least a partial surface of the component. At least a portion of the partial surface, as a first contact surface, may contact a contact component of the micromechanical component on at least one second contact area of the contact component, which has a needle-shaped microstructure, the moth-eye structure of the first contact area and the needle-shaped microstructure of the second contact area being at least partially interlocked with one another. Alternatively or additionally, at least a portion of the partial surface may be at least one partial area of an outer side and/or of an exposed inner side, facing the inner space, of the component configured as a light window. Also described is an optical device having such a micromechanical component, a manufacturing method for a micromechanical component, and a manufacturing method for an optical device.

2011-08-04

20110188141

DATA BACK-UP METHOD AND APPARATUS USING THE SAME - A hard disk controller includes a track counter which counts the number of times each of a plurality of tracks included in each of a plurality of disks is accessed and a processing unit which compares each of a plurality of count values obtained by the counting performed by the track counter with an access reference value, and backs up data recorded on at least one of the plurality of tracks. The at least one track has a count value equal to or greater than the access reference value from among the plurality of count values.

2011-08-04

20110188142

DISC OPERATION SELECTION - A method of identifying a string or chain of efficient or “good enough” disc operations for processing (a pseudo optimal chain) is provided. A “pseudo optimal chain” comprises a string or chain of operations that, while not necessarily the optimal string or chain, provides an efficient sequence of operations that can be determined by comparing individual operations to predetermined selection criteria. In contrast to a true optimization technique that can require computing up to N! combinations for N operations, the string or chain of efficient or “good enough” disc operations allows for relatively simpler computations.

2011-08-04

20110188143

METHOD AND ITS APPARATUS FOR INSPECTING A MAGNETIC DISK - In order to implement efficient read/write testing by firstly determining read/write test area-sampling positions based on position information relating to any defects detected during optical inspection, and then conducting read/write tests only upon areas neighboring the defects detected during the optical inspection, a magnetic disk to be inspected is retained on a spindle and moved under this state between an optical type of inspection apparatus and a read/write test apparatus, in which apparatus configuration the read/write test apparatus uses position information on any defects detected by the optical type of inspection apparatus and conducts read/write tests only upon neighboring areas of the defects detected by the optical type of inspection apparatus.

SERVO TRACK WRITER AND OPERATING METHOD - A method of operating a servo track writer includes writing a clock pattern signal to a magnetic recording medium of a head disk assembly, reading the clock pattern signal written to the magnetic recording medium and dividing a frequency of a read clock pattern signal, and supplying a clock pattern signal having a divided frequency to a spindle motor for rotating the magnetic recording medium.

2011-08-04

20110188146

IC PROTECTION CIRCUIT, METHOD FOR PROTECTING IC, AND APPARATUSES HAVING THE IC PROTECTION CIRCUIT - An electronic device includes a power supply line connected between a DC power supply and an integrated circuit, and a first electronic element and a second electronic element serially connected between the power supply line and ground. The second electronic element is open when the first electronic element is short-circuited due to an overvoltage induced in the power supply line. When the overvoltage exceeds a breakdown voltage of the first electronic element, the first electronic element supplies an overcurrent induced in the power supply line to the second electronic element.

2011-08-04

20110188147

METHOD ADJUSTING GAIN OF VARIABLE GAIN AMPLIFIER AND APPARATUS USING SAME - A method of adjusting gain of a variable gain amplifier of a read/write channel circuit includes loading a first VGA gain value that is read channel optimized, in a first register, loading a second VGA gain value that is adapted, in a second register, calculating a third VGA gain value according to a result of operation of the first VGA gain value and the second VGA gain value, and overwriting the third VGA gain value to the first register.

2011-08-04

20110188148

TAPE LIBRARY CONTROL APPARATUS AND TAPE LIBRARY CONTROL METHOD - A tape library control apparatus includes a storage for storing configuration information, a diagnostic evaluator, and a command controller. A tape library apparatus includes may include a plurality of tape drives and a plurality of magnetic tapes which includes specific magnetic tapes assigned for respective pieces of data specified by each data request issued by a host computer and a common magnetic tape provided for writing the respective pieces of the data. The diagnostic evaluator determines a use mode of the tape library apparatus on the basis of the configuration information. When the total number of the specific magnetic tapes is higher than the number of available tape drives, the use mode is determined and a command is issued to the tape library apparatus from the command controller to write data to the specific magnetic tape and to write to the common magnetic tape the respective pieces of the data.

2011-08-04

20110188149

SERVO PATTERNING COMPATIBLE WITH PLANARIZATION OF PATTERNED MAGNETIC DISKS - Embodiments herein illustrate patterned servo data that allows the patterned disk to be planarized with a relatively simple planarization process. A magnetic disk, in this regard, includes a data region having a plurality of tracks. The magnetic disk also includes a plurality of servo bursts patterned in the magnetic disk at a plurality of locations in each track. The servo bursts are operable to direct a controller to center a write head over a track in the data region and write a track identification. The servo bursts include magnetic lands and nonmagnetic grooves. The magnetic lands of the servo burst are generally configured with a uniform polarity of magnetization and a first uniform width. The nonmagnetic grooves are configured with a second uniform width.

2011-08-04

20110188150

DISK DRIVE WITH STATE-INFORMATION DATA BUFFER - A hard-disk drive (HDD) is described. During operation of the HDD, measured internal temperatures in the HDD may be stored in a first table, and state information specifying operational states of the HDD associated with ranges of internal temperatures may be stored in a second table. Note that a given operational state in the second table may be associated with a corresponding internal temperature in the first table. Furthermore, during operation of the HDD, the first table and/or the second table may be stored on: a rotatable medium in the HDD, a semiconductor memory in the HDD, or both. This stored table information may facilitate error detection and diagnosis.

2011-08-04

20110188151

THIN-FILM MAGNETIC HEAD HAVING A MAGNETIC POLE FORMED OF A PLATING FILM - A magnetic pole of a magnetic head includes a narrow and a wide portion, and is formed of a plating film. An electrode film forms the plating film, and is provided only under at least a part of the wide portion. A manufacturing method for the magnetic head includes: forming a plating-film-accommodating layer with an accommodating groove; forming the electrode film in part of the accommodating groove; and forming the plating film in the accommodating groove by plating using the electrode film. The accommodating groove includes a narrow and a wide groove portion for accommodating the narrow and wide portions, respectively. The electrode film is provided in at least a part of the wide groove portion. In the step of forming the plating film, the plating film grows from the surface of the electrode film, and the narrow groove portion is filled with a part of the plating film.

2011-08-04

20110188152

SERVO PATTERNING AND WRITING COMPATIBLE WITH PLANARIZATION OF PATTERNED MAGNETIC DISKS - Embodiments herein illustrate patterned servo data that is used to facilitate subsequent servo writing to a magnetic disk while allowing the patterned disk to be planarized with a relatively simple planarization process. One disk drive system includes a magnetic disk that is patterned with magnetic lands and nonmagnetic grooves. The magnetic disk also includes bootstrap bands that may be configured at an inner diameter of the magnetic disk. The magnetic lands of the bootstrap bands have varying sizes and are patterned as servo data having a uniform polarity of magnetization. The bootstrap bands have a width that is sufficiently narrow to support an air bearing surface of a slider. The data tracks are circumferentially configured proximate to the bootstrap bands. The slider reads the patterned servo data to facilitate writing of additional servo data in the data tracks.

2011-08-04

20110188153

Method of Retaining a Magnetically Preloaded Anti-Rotation Guide for a Transducer - A transducer positioning apparatus is provided that supports a read/write head on a data storage machine and biases the head against rotation. The transducer positioning apparatus may comprise a base that includes a linear drive motor and a support frame to which the read/write head is secured. The support frame is reciprocally driven by the linear drive motor relative to the base. A magnetic coupling is provided between the base and the support frame that resists movement of the frame other than the reciprocal movement of the support frame relative to the base. A method is also disclosed for magnetically biasing a movable head of a transducer against rotation.

2011-08-04

20110188154

MAGNETIC DISK DEVICE AND CONTROL METHOD THEREOF, AND INFORMATION PROCESSOR - According to one embodiment, a magnetic disk device is configured to read data from and write data to a magnetic disk using a magnetic head and provided with a control module that controls initial operation of the magnetic disk device according to initial firmware. The magnetic disk device includes a reader, a retainer, a blocker, and a switch. The reader reads control firmware stored in the magnetic disk. The retainer fixes a servo control amount for the magnetic head after the control firmware is read, and retains the magnetic head at a predetermined position above the magnetic disk. The blocker blocks input of an interrupt signal to the control module. The switch switches the initial firmware to the control firmware after the servo control amount is fixed and the input of an interrupt signal is blocked.

2011-08-04

20110188155

METHOD OF COMPENSATING FOR IMBALANCE OF HARD DISK DRIVE, APPARATUS TO PERFORM COMPENSATION, AND HARD DISK DRIVE MANUFACTURED THEREBY - A method of compensating for an imbalance of a hard disk drive includes biasing a plurality of disks in one direction with respect to a rotational shaft of a spindle motor hub, measuring an amount of imbalance of the plurality of disks with respect to the rotational shaft of the spindle motor hub, and compensating the amount of imbalance of the plurality of disks by hitting the hard disk drive in the opposite direction to the one direction in which the plurality of disks are biased to reduce the amount of imbalance with an amount of impact predetermined based on a measured imbalance amount.

2011-08-04

20110188156

Shield design for magnetic recording head - A magnetic shield in which all domain patterns and orientations are stable and which are consistently repeated each time the shield is exposed to an initialization field, is disclosed. This is achieved by giving it a suitable shape which ensures that all closure domains can align themselves at a reduced angle relative to the initialization direction while still being roughly antiparallel to each other. Most, though not all, of these shapes are variations on trapezoids.

PROTECTION CIRCUIT FOR A DRIVE CIRCUIT OF A PERMANENT MAGNET MOTOR AND CORRESPONDING SYSTEM - It is presented a protection circuit for a drive circuit of a permanent magnet motor being powered by a main DC source. The protection circuit comprises a protection circuit DC source; a changeover switch being arranged to select an input to a gate of a main drive switch of the drive circuit, the input being selectable between an output of the protection circuit DC source and a second control signal; and a changeover control device connected to control the changeover switch, which changeover control device is arranged to ensure that the changeover switch is connected to the output of the second side of the protection circuit DC source when an overvoltage is detected.

2011-08-04

20110188159

METHOD AND DEVICE FOR SUPERVISING SECONDARY CIRCUIT OF INSTRUMENT TRANSFORMER IN POWER SYSTEM - A method and a protection IED for supervising a secondary circuit of an instrument transformer in a power system are disclosed. The instrument transformer is connected to a power system component. The method includes: detecting, by a protection IED which is connected to the secondary circuit of the instrument transformer and protects the power system component, disturbances in a signal from the instrument transformer; and determining whether a failure occurs in the secondary circuit of the instrument transformer, according to both a disturbance detection result from the protection IED and another disturbance detection result from at least one of other protection IEDs. The other protection IEDs include protection IEDs which are connected to other secondary circuits of the instrument transformer or to secondary circuits of another instrument transformer connected to the power system component, and protection IEDs which are connected to other instrument transformers connected to other power system components connected to the same busbar as the power system component is connected to. The secondary circuit supervision solutions provide more reliable and sensitive performance and need very small amount of information to be collected.

2011-08-04

20110188160

PROTECTIVE DEVICE HAVING A THIN CONSTRUCTION - The present invention is directed to an electrical wiring device that includes a housing having a front cover member having a front major surface. The front major surface includes at least one set of receptacle openings formed in at least one end thereof. The at least one set of receptacle openings is configured to accommodate at least one plug set including a ground prong, hot plug blade and neutral plug blade. The housing further comprises a front cover member, a back cover member, and an electrically isolating separator member disposed therebetween. The electrically isolating separator member includes at least one ground compartment configured to accommodate and electrically isolate the ground prong. A protective circuit assembly is at least partially disposed on a printed circuit board (PCB) that is positioned in the back cover member such that a lower spatial region is formed between the PCB and the at least one ground compartment. The lower spatial region is within a lower plane substantially parallel to the back major surface. The protective circuit assembly includes an actuator assembly and a toroidal sensor having a central toroid aperture. The actuator assembly includes a solenoid coil operatively connected to a latch block assembly. The at least one ground compartment, the toroidal sensor and the solenoid coil are substantially aligned with a central longitudinal plane normal to the front major surface. An end portion of the actuator assembly is substantially adjacent a side wall of the at least one ground compartment and the central toroid aperture is substantially disposed in the lower plane such that a distance from the interior ground strap portion and the back major surface is less than or equal to a predetermined distance.

ABNORMALITY DETECTION CIRCUIT, LOAD DRIVING DEVICE, AND ELECTRICAL APPARATUS - An abnormality detection circuit monitors the sink current Irnf of a H-bridge circuit and determines the presence of an abnormal state if the sink current is not detected for a predetermined time. The abnormality detection circuit includes a clock pulse generator, a counter and a NMOS transistor. The abnormality detection circuit includes a clock pulse generator arranged to generate a clock pulse of a predetermined frequency, and a counter arranged so that a count value is incremented every time the clock pulse is provided to the counter and arranged so that the count value is reset when the sink current is detected. The counter generates a first abnormality detection signal that changes from a normal logic level to an abnormal logic level when the count value reaches a predetermined value without being reset.